If you’ve got weak stomach muscles, have we got the diet for you! Most women only dream of abs tight enough to turn heads. A new book promises to make those flattening fantasies a reality. In The Abs Diet for Women (Rodale Books), fitness guru David Zinczenko outlines a combination of balanced eating and basic exercise easy enough for any woman to stomach. Plus, take our quiz and find out if you’re really ready to lose weight…

Back in 2004, Men’s Health editor-in-chief David Zinczenko made a name for himself when he released The Abs Diet (Rodale Books, 2004) along with co-author Ted Spiker. Hailed by diet and fitness experts, the book became a bestseller. Now the duo has tailored a program specifically to women.

In this Lifescript exclusive, Zinczenko talks about their innovative approach to women’s weight loss. Lifescript: How successful has the Abs Diet been for women?

David Zinczenko: We've had so many success stories from women [including celebs like Nelly Furtado] who have tried the Abs Diet – women who wanted to lose post-pregnancy fat, women who wanted to get back into their college jeans, women who wanted to firm some flab, women who wanted to make themselves athletes. It's hard to know exactly how many men and women have found success.

LS: Why did you design a special Abs Diet for women?

Zinczenko: The original Abs Diet can work well for both men and women, but I also realized that women have some special needs and interests that many men don't necessarily have.

For example, while I don't necessarily agree with calorie counting, I know that many women like to calorie count, so I've included some guidelines for how to do that.

I also wanted to include some information about other things that are typically more of a concern for women – like what to do if you're vegetarian or are lactose intolerant or have hormonal problems that make losing weight troublesome.

LS: Why does a woman need a different abs routine than a man? Can women avoid the masculine 6six-pack look?

Zinczenko: In a lot of ways, the actual abs workout doesn't have to be a whole lot different than what men do. Basically, you want to strengthen your entire core – focusing on the upper section of abs, the lower section, the obliques (sides), the deep supportive muscle (the transverse abdominis), and the lower back.

We only want you to do abs work two or three times a week, and you're only doing a few exercises at a time – enough to strengthen your core, without doing so much that you're going to look like a bodybuilder. That way, the goal is a flat, toned stomach.

LS: What are the main components of the Abs Diet?

Zinczenko: In the Abs Diet, the main component is certainly the eating principles – specifically, making sure that you eat often enough to keep your metabolism revved and making sure you eat the right fat-burning and good-for-you Abs Diet Powerfoods that will help keep you satisfied all day long.

But, of course, the magic bullet is the exercise plan – a circuit of exercises that both gets your heart rate up and adds lean, toned muscle, which in itself will increase the rate at which you burn fat.

LS: How fast can women expect to lose weight when following the Abs Diet?

Zinczenko: It depends on the woman and a lot of factors [for example, her starting weight]. I found that women can reasonably expect a 5five-pound loss in the first two weeks and possibly a bit more.

But women should also look at such things as waist size and body-fat percentage, because the addition of lean muscle, especially at first, may throw off the scale a bit but will pay huge dividends in the end.

LS: What sets the Abs Diet for Women apart from other core-strengthening workouts?

Zinczenko: This is total-body. It works legs, upper body, abs, and includes a high-intensity interval session to really get the metabolic rate going. Best of all, these are all short workouts with major results. You don't need to spend a ton of time in the gym or doing long running sessions in order to change your body.

LS: What are some of the most important foods on the Abs Diet for women?

Zinczenko: All of the Abs Diet Powerfoods are crucial. They are easy to remember because of the ABS DIET POWER acronym:

Center your meals on these Powerfoods, and you'll fuel your body with the necessary nutrients – protein, good carbs, good fat, fiber. I think women need to pay special attention to protein, because it helps build that lean muscle that will help you burn fat faster.

LS: Will ab exercises alone help you lose belly fat?

Zinczenko: For some, belly fat may be the first to go when you start losing weight. But for others, it's the last. I've talked to many moms who are especially frustrated about the fact that post-pregnancy fat is so difficult to shed.

Ab exercises won't make you lose weight – they'll only strengthen and tighten your core. The way to [lose belly weight] is through smart eating and exercises that will help you burn fat such as strength training and interval sessions.

LS: What can most women achieve in six weeks as far as reshaping their bodies?

Zinczenko: It's not unusual to have women lose 15 pounds – some up to 20 or more – in six weeks. But perhaps even more important is the change in shape. A woman can certainly lose inches from her waist and she can change her shape and tone with our circuit training that targets both the upper and lower body.

LS: Why is the Abs Diet for Women approach so effective in battling the belly bulge?

Zinczenko: Because it targets exactly what you need to do to burn fat – rev your metabolism through eating the [right] foods and doing the exercises that are most effective. Studies have shown that programs very similar to the Abs Diet have been especially effective in helping people lose weight and inches from their bellies.

*Consult your physician before starting any new diet or fitness program.

Are You Ready to Lose Weight?Losing weight is a commitment to diet, exercise and behavioral changes. You know you could stand to lose some of those unwanted pounds, but are you ready to make this life-long commitment? Take this weight loss quiz to find out.

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